Career Secrets from the Insiders
Share
I have been reading Martin Yate since I was a job seeker about to be fresh out of college, and he has been one of my major sources of inspiration over the last few years. Fortunately for us, Martin's got a new Knock Em Dead book (this one is called Secrets and Strategies from the Insiders), and when I asked him if he could share some of the book's most important wisdom with you guys, here's what he had to say:

Take control of your life and change its trajectory: Every day, steal 30 minutes from your TV sitcom schedule and become involved in life as an active participant. With a plan of attack even this minimal amount of time will pay off, in earnings, security, and in work/life satisfaction.

Change is constant: We change jobs about every four years and do so over what is typically a half-century work life. The skills that will most insure your security and success are the skills of job search and career management. No one ever taught you these skills, but you have to take personal responsibility for their acquisition.

Enlightened self-interest is the key to long-term security and success: With enlightened self-interest, you give all the effort and goodwill a company expects. This POV enables you to simultaneously invest almost everything you do for the company into bringing your own goals and dreams to life.

Think of yourself as Me, Inc: Stop thinking of yourself as a dweeb who needs a job, and start thinking of yourself as a financial entity that must survive over a half century. By viewing yourself as a small company, you practice goal-setting, accountability, strategic planning, financial management, and marketing, and give yourself a framework for success.